Food & Food Equipment News

FDA warns Consumers Not to Eat Bio Gaudiano Brand Organic Olives Stuffed with Almonds

This product may put consumers at risk for botulism

Fast Facts
• FDA is warning consumers not to eat any Bio Gaudiano brand Organic Olives Stuffed with Almonds.
• Pure Italian LLC of Watertown, Mass., the U.S. distributor, in conjunction with the manufacturer and packer, Bio Gaudiano of Italy, is voluntarily recalling all sizes and lots of Bio Gaudiano Organic Olives Stuffed with Almonds. This product has been linked to a botulism outbreak in Europe.
• There are no reported cases of illness related to this product in the United States.
• Consumers should return the product to the place of purchase or dispose of it in a sealed container in the trash so that people and animals, including wild animals, can't get to it.

What is the Problem?
Health authorities in Europe have reported two cases of botulism in Finland involving hospitalization. The consumption of Organic Olives Stuffed with Almonds from Italian manufacturer Bio Gaudiano has been linked to these illnesses. Reports from the European health authorities indicate that samples of this product have tested positive for botulinum toxin, which causes botulism.

What are the Symptoms of Illness/Injury?
Botulism is a serious, potentially fatal illness caused by eating food contaminated with botulinum toxin. Although cases are rare, botulism attacks the nervous system, and in its severe forms, can cause respiratory failure. Symptoms include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, and muscle weakness. Symptoms usually begin 18-36 hours after eating contaminated food, but they can occur as early as six hours or as late as 10 days.
 
Who is at Risk?
Anyone who eats food contaminated with botulinum toxin – whether adults or children – is at risk and can be affected.

What Do Consumers Need To Do? 
Consumers should not eat any and all Bio Gaudiano brand Organic Olives Stuffed with Almonds. If the product is still on hand, consumers should return it to the place of purchase or dispose of it in a sealed container in the trash so that people and animals, including wild animals. Consumers exhibiting any symptoms of botulism should see a health care provider immediately.

What Does the Product Look Like?
The recall of this product includes all batches and all sizes of Bio Gaudiano brand Organic Olives Stuffed with Almonds, including those in glass jars and metal cans. Photos of the products are provided below.

Where is it Distributed?
According to information FDA has received from Pure Italian LLC, the U.S. distributor of this product, the product was initially distributed only to Massachusetts retailers.

314 ml glass jars of this Bio Gaudiano brand Organic Olives Stuffed with Almonds may have been sold at SoWa farmers market in South End, Mass. In addition, the following stores in Massachusetts may have repackaged and resold the almond-stuffed olives in containers that do not carry the Bio Gaudiano name: Foodies Fresh Market, Boston, Mass.; Russo's, Watertown, Mass.; and Fresh Choice Supermarket, Framingham, Mass. If you have any questions, please talk to the retailer before purchasing or eating almond-stuffed olives.

What is Being Done about the Problem?
FDA continues to work with the distributor to ensure that products are removed from the marketplace.

Who Should be Contacted?
Consumers who have purchased Bio Gaudiano brand Organic Olives Stuffed with Almonds of any size or lot are urged to discard, destroy or return the product to the place of purchase. Contact Pure Italian LLC at 617-372-1659 or 617-331-2062 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET for more information.

The information in this press release reflects the FDA’s best effort to communicate what it has learned from the manufacturer and the state and local public health agencies involved in the investigation. The agency will update this page as more information becomes available.

For more information:

Botulism, general information from CDC
http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/divisions/dfbmd/diseases/botulism/

Pure Italian LLC Recalls Bio Gaudiano Brand Stuffed Olives With Almonds Because Of Possible Health Risk
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm278254.htm

FDA warns consumers not to eat certain ASSI Brand frozen oysters

Oysters linked to norovirus cases in Washington state

Fast Facts

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to eat certain ASSI Brand frozen oysters from Korea following an outbreak of illness in Washington state caused by norovirus.

• The frozen oyster meat (shucked; not in shell), is packed in 3-lb bags . Each bag is labeled  ASSI Brand “INDIVIDUALLY QUICK FROZEN OYSTER” with a “Better if Used By” date of “2013.02.232.”  Each bag identifies Central Fisheries Co. Ltd., as the packer and Korean Farms of Santa Fe Springs, Calif., as the distributor. Korean Farms has voluntarily agreed to recall these oysters.

• The individual bags are shipped in boxes of 10 bags each with the lot number C-110223, appearing on each shipping carton , along with a “SHUCKED DATE: 2011.02.24.

• These oysters, which were served in a Washington state restaurant and were eaten by three people who became ill, have been sampled and tested positive by FDA for norovirus genotypes I and II.

• There have been no reports of hospitalizations or deaths resulting from consuming the frozen oysters.

• Records indicate that this product was shipped to the states of Washington, California, Texas, Colorado, Arizona, Idaho, and Utah.

• Those who have recently purchased oysters should not eat them and should safely dispose of them in the trash or garbage disposal. 

What is the problem?
Certain ASSI Brand frozen oysters from Korea have been linked to an outbreak of illness in Washington state caused by norovirus.  These oysters, which were served in a Washington state restaurant and eaten by three people who became ill, have been sampled and tested positive by FDA for norovirus genotypes I and II. The frozen oyster meat (shucked; not in shell), is packed in 3-lb bags. Each bag is labeled ASSI Brand “INDIVIDUALLY QUICK FROZEN OYSTER” with a “Better if Used By” date of 2013.02.232.  Each bag identifies Central Fisheries Co. Ltd., as the packer and Korean Farms of Santa Fe Springs, Calif., as the distributor. The individual bags are shipped in boxes of 10 bags each with the lot number C-110223, appearing on each shipping carton, along with a “SHUCKED DATE: 2011.02.24.”  Korean Farms has voluntarily agreed to recall these oysters.

What are the symptoms of Norovirus?
Norovirus causes acute gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and intestines). The most common symptoms are nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain. The illness often begins suddenly and norovirus can make people feel extremely ill with frequent vomiting and diarrhea. Most people get better within 1 to 2 days. Dehydration can be a problem among some people with norovirus infection, especially the very young, the elderly, and people with other illnesses.

Who is at risk?
Anyone can get norovirus, and can have the illness multiple times during their lifetime. Norovirus is highly contagious. People with norovirus are contagious from the moment they begin feeling ill to at least 3 days and perhaps for as long as 2 weeks after recovery, making control of this disease difficult.  Norovirus can spread quickly in settings such as day care centers or nursing homes.

What Do Consumers Need To Do? 
Those who have recently purchased the frozen oysters should not eat them and should dispose of them in the trash or garbage disposal.  If the oysters were already consumed and no one became ill, no action is needed.  If you develop illness within several days after consuming these Korean frozen oysters, consult your health care provider and inform the provider of your exposure to this product.
 
Where Were the Oysters Distributed?
Records indicate that the identified lot of oysters was shipped to the states of Washington, California, Texas, Colorado, Arizona, Alaska, Idaho, and Utah.
 
What is Being Done about the Problem?
Under the provisions of the National Shellfish Sanitation Program, the state of California is working with the company that distributed the frozen oysters to recall the product.

Who Should be Contacted?

Consumers with questions about the recalled oysters should call Korean Farms Inc. at 1-562-789-9988.

Consumers who show any signs of illness after eating the frozen oysters should consult their health care provider. FDA encourages consumers with questions about seafood safety to call 1-888-SAFEFOOD or consult the fda.gov website.

The information in this press release reflects the FDA’s best efforts to communicate what it has learned from the manufacturer and the state and local public health agencies involved in the investigation. The agency will update this page as more information becomes available.

For more information: 

FDA: Fresh and Frozen Seafood: Selecting and Serving it Safely

CDC:  Norovirus Illness – Key Facts

FDA Warns Consumers Not to Eat Raw Oysters Harvested from Hood Canal Area 4 in Washington State

Oyster recall affects 23 states

Fast Facts

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to eat raw oysters harvested from an area of Hood Canal in Washington state following an outbreak of illness in that state caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteria.
• Raw oysters harvested from "growing area 4" in Hood Canal from Aug. 30 to Sept. 19 have been linked to three confirmed and two possible cases of Vibrio parahaemolyticus illness.  
• All ill persons reported consumption of raw oysters.
• There have been no reports of hospitalizations or deaths resulting from consuming the oysters.
• The Washington State Department of Health has closed the growing area associated with the illnesses. Commercial oyster harvesters and dealers who obtained oysters from this growing area have initiated a recall and notified their commercial customers in affected states of the recall.
• Shipping and other records provided by Washington State indicate that oysters harvested from this area were distributed to establishments in 23 states and four foreign countries. Washington State authorities have notified those states involved of the recall.
• Those who have recently purchased oysters should check with the place of purchase and ask if they were harvested from the affected growing area.

What is the problem?
Raw oysters harvested and shipped from Hood Canal Area 4 in Washington state between Aug. 30 and Sept. 19 have been linked to illnesses caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteria.

What are the symptoms of Vibrio illness?
Illness is typically characterized by nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The symptoms begin from a few hours up to five days after consumption of raw or undercooked seafood, particularly shellfish, or after ingestion of surface waters.

Who is at risk?
Persons at risk are those who traveled to Washington state and consumed oysters that were harvested from Hood Canal Area 4 or who purchased oysters in a state to which these oysters were distributed and ate them. Individuals with weakened immune systems, including people affected by AIDS, chronic alcohol abuse, liver, stomach, or blood disorders, cancer, diabetes, or kidney disease can be more susceptible to vibrio illness and should avoid eating raw oysters, regardless of where they are harvested.

What Do Consumers Need To Do?  
Consumers in the affected states should inquire of the retailer, restaurant, or other facility about the source of the oysters offered for purchase. If the oysters were definitely or possibly harvested from Hood Canal Area 4 in Washington state, and have not yet been consumed, they should not be eaten. If the oysters were already consumed and no one became ill, no action is needed. If you develop a diarrheal illness within a week after consuming raw or undercooked shellfish, see your healthcare provider and inform the provider about this exposure.

Where Were the Oysters Distributed?
Records obtained by Washington state health officials indicate that raw oysters from this area of the Hood Canal in Washington State were distributed to 23 states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Utah, and Washington, and to the countries of China, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Thailand.

What is Being Done about the Problem?
The Washington State Department of Health has closed Area 4 of Hood Canal to shellfish harvesting. All product harvested and shipped between August 30 and September 19 has been recalled. Washington State has notified all other states where product was shipped that they should hold and destroy product.

Who Should be Contacted?
The FDA encourages consumers with questions about seafood safety to call 1-888-SAFEFOOD or to write to [email protected].  

The information in this press release reflects the FDA's best efforts to communicate what it has learned from the manufacturer and the state and local public health agencies involved in the investigation. The agency will update this page as more information becomes available.

For more information:

CDC – General information on Vibrio parahaemolyticus
http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/divisions/dfbmd/diseases/vibriop/

Food Safety.gov - General information on Vibrio infections
http://www.foodsafety.gov/poisoning/causes/bacteriaviruses/vibrio_infections/index.html

FDA- Fresh and Frozen Seafood: Selecting and Serving it Safely
http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm077331.htm

FDA- Raw Oyster myths
http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/HealthEducators/ucm085385.htm

Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., Inc. Files Lawsuit Against FDA in U.S. District Court

Del Monte Fresh Produce, N.A., Inc., a subsidiary of Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. (NYSE:FDP), filed suit on Monday, August 22, 2011 against the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland to seek an injunction that would lift an FDA rule restricting the importation of wholesome fresh cantaloupes into the United States.

Del Monte Fresh is one the largest importer of cantaloupes into the U.S. and is well known for selling fruit of the highest quality. The melons are farmed, processed, transported, and stored under state-of-the-art food safety controls that far exceed FDA regulatory requirements.

Del Monte Fresh’s claims are based on the FDA’s (and several other state health agency officials’) erroneous speculation, unsupported by scientific evidence, that cantaloupes previously imported by Del Monte Fresh from a Guatemalan farm and packing facility were contaminated with the pathogen Salmonella. In fact, neither the FDA nor any state health agency in the U.S. has offered evidence or data to support the FDA action.

”Del Monte Fresh Produce places the highest priority on food safety and protecting customers. We require all of our suppliers to comply with all FDA recommended food safety procedures, including the FDA’s Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, as well as the FDA’s Sanitary Standard Operating Procedures. The farm and packing facility at issue in this case was in full compliance with these food safety procedures. The restrictions imposed by the FDA on Del Monte Fresh Produce’s ability to import cantaloupes are unnecessary and not supported by the facts,” said Dennis Christou, Vice President Marketing, N.A. of Del Monte Fresh.

The FDA’s actions adversely affect Del Monte Fresh’s ability to receive perishable fresh produce for sale to its customers in the U.S., as the import alert threatens the viability of a major import source for cantaloupes. Since significant resources and commitments must be finalized immediately to ensure Guatemalan cantaloupes will be ready for harvest in the near future, Del Monte Fresh is seeking immediate injunctive relief from the court.

About Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc.

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. is one of the world's leading vertically integrated producers, marketers and distributors of high-quality fresh and fresh-cut fruit and vegetables, as well as a leading producer and distributor of prepared food in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the countries formerly part of the Soviet Union. Fresh Del Monte markets its products worldwide under the Del Monte® brand, a symbol of product innovation, quality, freshness and reliability for more than 100 years.

FDA: Regulatory science plan positions agency to foster innovation through better science

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has released its "Strategic Plan for Regulatory Science," calling for a sweeping modernization of the science used in developing and evaluating products critical to the nation's health, economy, and security.

"The breadth and scope of FDA's regulatory oversight is extraordinary, touching the lives of every American, through the food they eat, the medicines they take, and the medical devices they use," said FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D. "As new discoveries yield increasingly complex products, this strategic plan ensures that our experts are equipped to make science-based decisions resulting in sound regulatory policy. It positions us to foster innovation through better science without compromising our high safety standard."

The plan provides specific details of the agency's Regulatory Science Initiative, outlined in October, 2010.

The strategic plan describes the agency's intent to collaboratively enhance the process for developing and evaluating promising new products and novel materials from fields such as cell therapy, tissue engineering, genomics, personalized medicine, advanced computing, and information technology. It also underscores the agency's emphasis on food safety.

The plan also emphasizes the agency's intention to study and improve how it communicates health information to consumers, particularly as communication technologies rapidly evolve and change the way people receive that information.

"New technologies provide unprecedented opportunities to prevent and cure disease and to grow our high tech economy," said FDA Chief Scientist Jesse Goodman, M.D, M.P.H. "This plan will help turn advances in science into products that benefit people, and help FDA assure that happens more quickly and safely. It is win-win-win, because it will help the public, the agency, and developers of new products."

The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.

FDA Employee Health and Personal Hygiene Interactive Resource Disk Available

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is releasing the Employee Health and Personal Hygiene Interactive Resource Disk for use by foodservice establishments and retail food stores in preventing transmission of foodborne pathogens that are often transmitted by sick food employees. The disk includes an interactive tool to assist the persons in charge of these establishments make the correct decisions to prevent sick employees from working with food. In addition, it contains several FDA resource documents such as the 2009 FDA Food Code, an Employee Health and Personal Hygiene Handbook, a recording of a satellite broadcast on “Using Employee Health and Personal Hygiene Measures,” and education and training materials in multiple languages on employee health and personal hygiene.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention annually publishes a list of infectious and communicable diseases that are transmitted through food and the FDA Food Code lists five of the pathogens that have high infectivity and are easily transmitted to food by sick employees. These pathogens, referred to as the “Big 5,” are: Norovirus, Hepatitis A virus, Salmonella Typhi, Shigella spp., and Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 or other Enterohemorrhagic or Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.

In order to prevent transmission of the "Big 5" to food or to other persons, it is important that all employees working with food are fully aware of their responsibility to report symptoms, diagnosis, past illness, and history of exposure associated with these pathogens. The interactive tool follows a question and answer format and focuses on symptoms associated with the “Big 5” pathogens, including vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, and sore throat with fever. When the person in charge is informed of employee symptoms or learns of a diagnosis, he or she can use the interactive tool to determine whether to notify the regulatory authority, whether to have the employee sent home or to remain at work, and when to allow the employee to return to work. or a health practitioner. The disk is not to be used as a substitute for state and local regulatory requirements.

The disk is a tool that quickly provides the information needed to prevent a sick food employee from transmitting a foodborne disease. It is not meant to be used as a tool to diagnose foodborne disease or as a substitute for consultation with a regulatory authority.

Horizon Organic® Grants Annual HOPE and National Quality Awards to Family Farmers Committed to Advancing Organic Agriculture

Horizon Organic^® today announced the family farmer recipients of two annual awards: the HOPE Award, which honors farmers who advocate organic agriculture; and the Quality Award, which recognizes the Horizon farmer who produces the highest quality organic milk in the entire Horizon milk supply.

The Hardy family of Farmington, Maine received the 2011 Horizon Organic Producer Education (HOPE) Award, while the Sheen family of Gouverneur, N.Y. was recognized with the 2011 National Quality Award, during Farm Aid’s annual benefit concert at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan.

“For the past 20 years, our farmers have been the heart of Horizon Organic,” said Mike Ferry, Horizon Organic president. “The HOPE and National Quality Awards give us an opportunity to recognize the impact our farmers make – not only in their local communities as advocates for organic agriculture but also with the families nationwide who choose Horizon Organic because we offer the highest quality and best tasting organic dairy products available. We’re proud to honor the Hardy and Sheen families for their ongoing commitment not only to Horizon but also the entire organic movement.”

HOPE Award: Henry and Teresa Hardy

Henry and Teresa Hardy involve their entire family – two daughters, a son and daughter-in-law – in running their 165-acre farm, which was started by Henry Hardy’s father in the late 1940s. They transitioned from conventional to organic farming in 2003, with the help of a neighboring Horizon farmer who guided them through the process. Today, the Hardys have returned the favor by helping at least a dozen farmers transition to organic in Maine, which ranks 12^th in the nation for the number of certified organic farms, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Hardys also host farm tours for students, are involved with local and statewide organic dairy, farm and conservation-related organizations, and attend fairs statewide where the family shows their registered Ayrshire cows. “It’s a privilege to help others transition and experience the benefits of organic dairy farming,” said Teresa Hardy. “The work we do to promote organic is part of our daily lives. It’s just us; it’s the way we are. We’re excited and honored to receive the HOPE Award for doing what we believe in and enjoy.”

The Hardys say organic farming is good for the environment, their family and their 53 dairy cows that freely graze in the pasture and aren’t given growth hormones or antibiotics. “I like knowing what’s going into the cows and our own food,” said Hardy.

National Quality Award – Jeffrey and Sharon Sheen

The National Quality Award recognizes farmers who deliver the highest quality milk of Horizon’s more than 600 farmer partners in 23 states. Because producing safe and high-quality milk is the cornerstone of the Horizon brand, in addition to the Quality Award, Horizon also pays the largest bonuses in the industry to encourage excellence.

In winning the 2011 National Quality Award, the Sheen’s dairy consistently delivered the highest quality organic milk of all Horizon family farms. The Sheens, who have 40 Holsteins on their 343-acre farm, have shipped to Horizon for the past seven years.

While Sharon Sheen grew up on a dairy farm, neither she nor Jeffrey milked a cow until they started their own farm about 14 years ago. “We learned by trial and error, and I asked a lot of questions!” said Jeffrey Sheen.

He attributes winning the Quality Award to his family’s constant attention to the herd and organic standards. “We’ve found that the simpler we keep things, the better,” said Sheen. “We keep an eye on everything.”

The top 10 percent of Horizon farms in each state also earned quality awards. For consideration, producers must ship organic milk to the company for one full calendar year, and the average test results for each shipment must be among the best in their respective states.

The Hardys and Sheens will be honored during Farm Aid’s annual concert on Aug.13 at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park in Kansas City. America’s longest running concert-for-a-cause, Farm Aid is held annually to help further its mission to keep farm families on their land. Horizon Organic has been a major sponsor of Farm Aid since 2003.

About Horizon Organic

Horizon believes the choice for a healthy family and a healthy planet should be an easy one. Horizon offers a delicious variety of certified organic dairy products to satisfy a broad range of consumer needs. Horizon’s commitment to a healthier planet includes offsetting the energy used to produce its products with clean, renewable wind power. Horizon works with over 600 active and transitioning family farmers across the U.S. Founded in 1991, Horizon was a pioneer in the organic industry, the first company to supply organic milk nationally, and remains committed to providing great-tasting dairy products that make it easy for moms to provide nutritious options for her kids. For more information about Horizon’s organic dairy products, visit www.horizondairy.com.

About Farm Aid

Farm Aid’s mission is to build a vibrant, family farm-centered system of agriculture in America. Farm Aid artists and board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews host an annual concert to raise funds to support Farm Aid’s work with family farmers and to inspire people to choose family farm food. Since 1985, Farm Aid, with the support of the artists who contribute their performances each year, has raised more than $39 million to support programs that help farmers thrive, expand the reach of the Good Food Movement, take action to change the dominant system of industrial agriculture and promote food from family farms.

Food Day 2011 is Getting Cooking!

Thousands of Events on October 24 Will Encourage Americans to ‘Eat Real’

Communities around the country are gearing up for Food Day—a grassroots mobilization aimed at improving America’s food policies. Set for Monday, October 24, 2011, Food Day will see thousands of forums and celebrations from coast to coast aimed at promoting healthy diets and solving local communities’ food problems.

“Our food system is delivering up epidemic-levels of obesity and cardiovascular disease,” said Michael F. Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which, along with a prestigious advisory board, is spearheading Food Day. “And we’re paying billions of dollars in subsidies to farmers who don’t need them and little to those that do. We’re maximizing crop yields—and polluting our air and water with fertilizer, pesticides, and antibiotics— yet we haven’t ended hunger. Food Day will shine a light on solutions to these seemingly intractable problems.”

The broad outlines of Food Day are beginning to take shape:
Events are being planned at the University of Vermont, University of Pennsylvania, University of Minnesota, New York University, Stanford, Yale, Harvard School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, and other campuses;

The American Medical Student Association is organizing Food Day activities around food deserts, hunger, and healthier diets;

• Syracuse, NY, is organizing a festival to celebrate local food and their rich cultural and ethnic diversity;
• The New Haven, Conn., Food Policy Council and community partners are organizing a city-wide cook-in and harvest festival;
• Philadelphia is planning a city-wide event focused on ending hunger and food
  deserts;
• Sioux City, IA, is planning for nearly 1,000 people to participate in activities at three cultural institutions; the highlight will be a major conference on how small and mid-size farmers can get their produce to market;
• The America the Beautiful Fund will provide plant and flower seeds in September for all Food Day coordinators to plant community gardens;
• California organizations are building a state-wide Food Day partnership to promote new food policies; and
• At FoodDay.org, Americans can now find Food Day events near them, or announce their own.

Food Day organizers at the Center for Science in the Public Interest’s Washington office hope that the campaign will inspire Americans to organize events in schools, college campuses, houses of worship, hospitals, and even in private homes aimed at fixing America’s food system. A Food Day event could be as small as a parent organizing a vegetable identification contest at a kindergarten class—or as massive as a rally in a city park, with entertainment and healthy food. Health departments, city councils, and other policymakers could use Food Day to launch campaigns, hold hearings, or otherwise address communities’ food problems.

“Americans want a better and healthier food system,” said Marion Nestle, the Paulette Goddard Professor in the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University and a member of Food Day's advisory board. “Food Day can inspire Americans to make healthier food choices, but even better, Food Day will help promote changes in food and farm policies that will benefit health, the environment, and the people who grow, harvest, prepare, and serve America’s food.”

In Seattle, 100 public schools will observe Food Day with a special, healthy menu item. In that city Food Day enjoys the support of the mayor, the city council president, and other local officials. And, the University of Washington public health department will run an interdisciplinary symposium on the food system.

“Food Day is a great way to increase public awareness about the importance of good food to health, economic prosperity, and regional and national security,” said Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin who has spearheaded the Seattle Local Food Action Initiative.

Besides Jacobson, Food Day is led by honorary co-chairs Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), and an advisory board that includes author Michael Pollan; former Surgeon General David Satcher; nutrition authorities Walter Willett, Kelly Brownell, and Nestle; public health expert Georges Benjamin; and chefs Dan Barber, Nora Pouillon, and Alice Waters.

National organizations such as the American Dietetic Association, American Public Health Association, Community Food Security Coalition, Earth Day Network, Farmers Market Coalition, Humane Society of the United States, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, Prevention Institute, and Slow Food USA, along with many city- and state-level organizations, are publicizing Food Day or organizing events.

Government Data Proves Raw Milk is Safe

Data gleaned from U.S. government websites and government-sanctioned reports on foodborne illnesses show that the risk of contracting foodborne illness by consuming raw milk is much smaller than the risk of becoming ill from other foods, according to research by Dr. Ted Beals, MD, appearing in the Summer, 2011 issue of Wise Traditions, the quarterly journal of the Weston A. Price Foundation.

“At last we have access to the numbers we need to determine the risk of consuming raw milk on a per-person basis,” says Sally Fallon Morell, president of the Weston A. Price Foundation, a non-profit nutrition education foundation that provides information on the health benefits of raw, whole milk from pastured cows.

The key figure that permits a calculation of raw milk illnesses on a per-person basis comes from a 2007 Centers for Disease Control (CDC) FoodNet survey, which found that 3.04 percent of the population consumes raw milk, or about 9.4 million people, based on the 2010 census. This number may in fact be larger in 2011 as raw milk is growing in popularity. For example, sales of raw milk increased 25 percent in California in 2010, while sales of pasteurized milk declined 3 percent.

In addition, Dr. Beals has compiled published reports of illness attributed to raw milk from 1999 to 2010. During the eleven-year period, illnesses attributed to raw milk averaged 42 per year.

“Using government figures for foodborne illness for the entire population, Dr. Beals has shown that you are about thirty-five thousand times more likely to get sick from other foods than you are from raw milk,” says Fallon Morell. “And with good management practices in small grass-based dairies offering fresh unprocessed whole milk for direct human consumption, we may be able to reduce the risk even further.”

“It is irresponsible for senior national government officials to oppose raw milk, claiming that it is inherently hazardous,” says Dr. Beals. “There is no justification for opposing the sale of raw milk or warning against its inclusion in the diets of children and adults.”

According to Pete Kennedy, president of the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund, “Where raw milk is concerned, the FDA has an agenda apart from protecting the public health. The agency wants to restrict and discourage the sale of unprocessed dairy products. This will have the effect of denying freedom of choice.”

“Every time there is a possible connection between illness and raw milk, government officials issue dire press releases and call for bans on raw milk sales,” says Fallon Morell. “However, these numbers fail to justify the government opposition and prove what we’ve known all along, that raw milk is a safe and healthy food.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.realmilk.com/real-milk-pathogens.html.

The Weston A. Price Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nutrition education foundation with the mission of disseminating accurate, science-based information on diet and health. Named after nutrition pioneer Weston A. Price, DDS, author of Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, the Washington, DC-based Foundation publishes a quarterly journal for its 13,000 members, supports 450 local chapters worldwide and hosts a yearly international conference. The Foundation phone number is (202) 363-4394, www.westonaprice.org, [email protected].

FDA reopens comment period on proposed ‘gluten-free’ food labeling rule

Rule would help by creating a uniform and enforceable definition

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today reopened the comment period for its 2007 proposal on labeling foods as “gluten-free.” The agency is also making available a safety assessment of exposure to gluten for people with celiac disease (CD) and invites comment on these additional data.

One of the criteria proposed is that foods bearing the claim cannot contain 20 parts per million (ppm) or more gluten. The agency based the proposal, in part, on the available methods for gluten detection. The validated methods could not reliably detect the amount of gluten in a food when the level was less than 20 ppm. The threshold of less than 20 ppm also is similar to “gluten-free” labeling standards used by many other countries.

People who have celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten, a protein in wheat, rye, and barley. Celiac disease damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. About 1 percent of the United States population is estimated to have the disease.

“Before finalizing our gluten-free definition, we want up-to-date input from affected consumers, the food industry, and others to help assure that the label strikes the right balance,” said Michael Taylor, deputy commissioner for foods. “We must take into account the need to protect individuals with celiac disease from adverse health consequences while ensuring that food manufacturers can meet the needs of consumers by producing a wide variety of gluten-free foods.”

The proposed rule conforms to the standard set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission in 2008, which requires that foods labeled as “gluten-free” not contain more than 20 ppm gluten. This standard has been adopted in regulations by the 27 countries composing the Commission of European Communities.

The FDA encourages members of the food industry, state and local governments, consumers, and other interested parties to offer comments and suggestions about gluten-free labeling in docket number FDA-2005-N-0404 at www.regulations.gov. The docket will officially open for comments after noon on Aug 3, 2011 and will remain open for 60 days.

To submit your comments electronically to the docket go to www.regulations.gov
1. Choose “Submit a Comment” from the top task bar
2. Enter the docket number FDA-2005-N-0404 in the “Keyword” space
3. Select “Search”

To submit your comments to the docket by mail, use the following address:

The Division of Dockets Management
HFA-305
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061
Rockville, MD 20852

Include docket number FDA-2005-N-0404 on each page of your written comments.

For more information:

Federal Register Notice (scroll to FDA--temporary link will update when document publishes on Aug. 3):
http://www.ofr.gov/inspection.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

Gluten-Free Portal (scroll to Gluten-Free):
http://www.fda.gov/Food/LabelingNutrition/FoodLabelingGuidanceRegulatoryInformation/Topic-SpecificLabelingInformation/default.htm#gluten

FDA’s Proposed Rule on the Gluten-Free Labeling of Foods: http://www.fda.gov/Food/LabelingNutrition/FoodAllergensLabeling/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/ucm077926.htm

Questions and Answers on the Gluten-Free Labeling Proposed Rule:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/LabelingNutrition/FoodLabelingGuidanceRegulatoryInformation/Topic-SpecificLabelingInformation/ucm265309.htm

Consumer Update on the Gluten-Free Labeling Proposed Rule:
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm265212.htm

The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.